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Bandera vs WSM

  • Thread starter Thread starter BillyH
  • Start date Start date
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BillyH

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Im pretty new to all this so Im researching the heck out it. I have a Bandera on order and cant wait for it to come in. Im reading of all the mods Im going to have to make, which I dont mind, Im a tinkerer and I weld so thats no biggy. But I keep reading and hearing about the WSM that just really does it all right out the box almost. Can someone please educate this griller here... When would you prefer one over the other and why? Are there things that one of them will do that the other just can not? Im sort of a traditionalist and I love the Bandera's looks...it looks like a cooker, made in Texas...they Q big time there.. I have my heart set on it, and I'll have one..but will I be going out and buying a WSM also? Someone help a brother out!!!
 
If it's a Char-Broil/New Braunsfel Bandera, it used to be made in Texas. Like most things, they are now made in China.
 
Like most things there's pros & cons to both sides. The WSM (I don't have one but someday that will change!) will give you hours of rock-steady temps with one load of charcoal and some wood chunks. Great for overnights, etc when you don't want to fark with the fire. Capacity is limited, however. The Bandera will give you the capacity. You can put a lot of meat in there. Here, though, you will spend your time adding wood throughout the entire smoke, (unless of course you've got one of Al's baskets, currently out of production).

I've got the Bandera and love it. When I fire it up I've got enough meat in there to freeze for many meals but I spend my day tending fire. Most of the time that's fine - I plan for it. But I also want Q when I don't have time to play all day with the fire so the WSM would be good for that.

Easy decision now, isn't it? :twisted:
 
not hardly..no easy answer...I really dont have a need for a lot of meat right now so maybe I ought to go with the WSM first. They seem a lot more forgiving if Im reading correctly. But the idea of getting a Bandera and modding it up is inviting.. I guess I'll have to get both...lol
 
Im a tinkerer and I weld so thats no biggy.
Billy, sounds like starting out with the 'dera is the right move for you. If the smokin' bug bites you like it has most of us around here, other cookers will come in time.
As jt already explained 'dera is a lot more interactive than the WSM. Both make great Q. Someday the pair will make a great combo.
 
I have both and use them both, depending on conditions.

WSM is a great bad weather cooker. Wind or rain, it is my go to cooker.

But on a nice day, when I have more to cook, and want to go all wood, its the Dera. Don't get me wrong though. I could have 25mph winds, sleet, and raccoons in my pants and I'll still go with the Dera.

Holidays, for 35 people, its the Dera, the WSM, the ECB, and the Kettle, all doing the variious things that they do best (feeding Uncle Farker)
 

El Cheapo Brinkman

An alternative to a WSM, and like the Bandera, needs a few mods to cook right. WSMs run 179.00 thru Amazon, where an ECB is somewhere between 40.00-60.00. If you can afford it, go with the WSM. If your thinking the ECB route, there are plenty on here than can help you with the mods, plus there are websites that also show the mods. I have them bookmarked on my regular machine, but I'm using a backup right now. Anyone have those sites and could paste here?
 
If it's a Char-Broil/New Braunsfel Bandera, it used to be made in Texas. Like most things, they are now made in China.

A little off topic, but I wish those chinamen would learn how to count and follow instructions! Last night, when I dug into my dera and the bag of bolts, nuts, and other goodies, I came to find out these tards left out various nuts and bolts. Now I have to go to Home Depot just to get some more hardware because they simply could not follow instructions. Lovely, I see the offshoring is really helping the boys make a more efficient buck!

Bah Humbug!!!
 
I would start off with the WSM and learn the art of cooking que first. If you go right with the Bandera as a noob, you have to learn the "cooking" side of que along with the "temperature control" side, which can be a little overwhelming.
As people have already mentioned, the WSM will maintain constant temperture for hours without any adjustments, so you can just concentrate on fine tuning your recipes, cooking times, etc. After a while you might find that you want to step up to the bandera, and it will be a easy transition.
I had used a WSM for probably a year before I bought my Bandera, and I still had a big learning curve to go through until I mastered the art of tending a wood fire. If I would not have had the cooking experience with the WSM, it would have been a lot more difficult.
 
Saiko said:
I would start off with the WSM and learn the art of cooking que first. If you go right with the Bandera as a noob, you have to learn the "cooking" side of que along with the "temperature control" side, which can be a little overwhelming.
As people have already mentioned, the WSM will maintain constant temperture for hours without any adjustments, so you can just concentrate on fine tuning your recipes, cooking times, etc. After a while you might find that you want to step up to the bandera, and it will be a easy transition.
I had used a WSM for probably a year before I bought my Bandera, and I still had a big learning curve to go through until I mastered the art of tending a wood fire. If I would not have had the cooking experience with the WSM, it would have been a lot more difficult.

good info! Thanks Saiko! We've missed you!
 
ECB is somewhere between 40.00-60.00.
My local Wal-mart has ECB's for $26. I spend more than that on meat most smokes, I'm having a tough time coming up with an excuse for not having one.
 
In my case the excuse would be divorce. More power to those able to acquire more toys. :(
 
kcquer said:
ECB is somewhere between 40.00-60.00.
My local Wal-mart has ECB's for $26. I spend more than that on meat most smokes, I'm having a tough time coming up with an excuse for not having one.

Hmmm. Time to turn the couch upside down. :lol:

piggybank sofa mod.
 
As the Brothers said:
Bandera=Activity, Fire Control, Capacity, & a Chance to Burn some Wood.
WSM=Rest, Set and Forget, a Chance to Burn some Kingsford.
I did the Bandera first and have loved it, now, with the WSM, I can cook all night and still get some sleep.

You know, you should probably have both! :lol:
 
Smoke4Brains said:
kcquer said:
ECB is somewhere between 40.00-60.00.
My local Wal-mart has ECB's for $26. I spend more than that on meat most smokes, I'm having a tough time coming up with an excuse for not having one.

Hmmm. Time to turn the couch upside down. :lol:

piggybank sofa mod.

my ECB (which was what I learned how to make meal taste like a house smelled after a fire) is now my portable.

Its a great cooker to throw into the van and take to the inlaws. Everything fits inside for transport.

Turns out great Q once you turn the heat down to a manageable level
 
I know for a fact that the 1st place Brisket at the Asbury Park, NJ, Guitarfest Cook-off was cooked in a WMS :D We had to muck with the fire a bit since Phil likes LOTS of wood chunks in the fire ring - but it would give us several hours between gently stirring the coals or adding a bit of lighted lump. Adjusting temps up/down was usually just a matter of resetting the dampers and waiting a few minutes.

I use both a bullet and horizontal at home.
 
DFLittle said:
I know for a fact that the 1st place Brisket at the Asbury Park, NJ, Guitarfest Cook-off was cooked in a WMS :D .

Is that a modded out WSM?
 
Is that a modded out WSM?

One had the Brinkmann fire pan mod for more water (brisket). The other was straight out of the box.
 
tommykendall said:
I cannot chime in on this topic. Never tried the WSM before. :oops:

Just drop it off in Missouri on your way thru...I'll let you know how it works! :D
 

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